You know the Club Kids. No, you really do. Lady Bunny, RuPaul, Amanda Lepore, Bjork; you know these names. Well a majority of them had their breakout moments (or even their formative ones in culture) in the late 1980s and through the 1990s. There, they were part of a quasi-crew headed by Michael Alig most known for crafting the culture of and populating the buzziest New York City clubs at the time. They boasted oversized, personally crafted personas, outrageous looks, and enough cultural cache that daytime talk shows felt the need to give them a ton of air time. And without Instagram, it was photographers for magazines and newspapers that captures all of this and disseminated it around the world to amplify their impact.
In his new book, artist and jewelry designer Walt Cassidy, then known as Waltpaper, gives an ode to these often unsung heroes. New York: Club Kids by Waltpaper is a curation of Club Kid imagery, by a Club Kid, giving a look back at one of the last subcultures of the analog world.
Here, we preview select images from the book, which is available October 3. Pre-orders are available now. Read our Q&A with Walt here.
Catherine McGann, Michael Alig, Christopher Comp, and Waltpaper at Macy’s Rave, 1992. Copyright Catherine McGann. All Rights Reserved
Brian Lantelme, David Flex (porn star and go-go dancer) at Sally’s II, 1996. Copyright Brian Lantelme. All Rights Reserved.
Misa Martin, Onyx Noir, Makeup Room at Webster Hall, 1994. Copyright Misa Martin. All Rights Reserved.
Joseph Cultice, Sidney Prawatyotin in High Times, 1994. Copyright Joseph Cultice. All Rights Reserved.
SKID, Astro Erle at Limelight, 1992. Copyright SKID. All Rights Reserved.
Stephan Lupino, The World, 1988. Copyright Stephan Lupino. All Rights Reserved.
Misa Martin, Waltpaper and Lil Keni at Webster Hall en route to Club ID, 1995. Copyright Misa Martin. All Rights Reserved.
Stephan Lupino, The World, 1988. Copyright Stephan Lupino. All Rights Reserved.
Catherine McGann, Boybar drag queens, 1987. Copyright Catherine McGann. All Rights Reserved.
Michael Fazakerley, Waltpaper, 1992. Copyright Michael Fazakerley. All Rights Reserved.
SKID, Sacred Boy and Desi Monster at Limelight, 1992. Copyright SKID. All Rights Reserved.
SKID, Sacred Boy, Astro Erle, Desi Monster, and Keda, 1992. Copyright SKID. All Rights Reserved.
Michael Fazakerley, Waltpaper, 1992. Copyright Michael Fazakerley. All Rights Reserved.
Stephan Lupino, The World, 1988. Copyright Stephan Lupino. All Rights Reserved.
SKID, Page, 1992. Copyright SKID. All Rights Reserved.
William Laxton, Whillyem, 1994. Copyright William Laxton. All Rights Reserved.
ZAK, Amanda Lepore and Arman Ra at Global 33, 1996. Copyright ZAK. All Rights Reserved.
SKID, Waltpaper at Limelight, 1992. Copyright SKID. All Rights Reserved.
